Mianwali Air Base Attack
Part of Terrorism in Pakistan
Date4 November 2023
Location
PAF Base M.M. Alam, Mianwali, Punjab, Pakistan
32°33′47″N 71°34′15″E / 32.56306°N 71.57083°E / 32.56306; 71.57083
Result

Pakistani Victory

  • Clearing operation against Militants successful
  • All 9 militants killed
  • 3 grounded aircraft damaged[1]
Belligerents
 Pakistan Air Force Tehreek-e-Jihad
Strength
9 militants
Casualties and losses
3 grounded aircraft damaged 9 militants killed
Mianwali air base attack is located in Pakistan
Mianwali air base attack
Mianwali Airbase

The Mianwali air base attack occurred on 4 November 2023. It was carried out by the jihadist group Tehreek-e-Jihad on the Pakistan Air Force's PAF Base M.M. Alam,[2][3][4] Punjab.[1][5][6][7][8]

Background

Prior to the attack on the air base, militants had launched two separate attacks on security forces in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region.[1]

In Tirah, Khyber District, an Intelligence-Based Operation (IBO) was conducted, resulting in an intense exchange of fire. One militant was killed, and two others were apprehended. In another incident, an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated in the Sarwekai area of South Waziristan District, killing two soldiers.[1]

A day prior to the attack, 14 soldiers were killed in an ambush in Balochistan Province while five people were killed in a bomb attack targeting police in Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.[9]

Attack

In the early hours of 4 November 2023, the Mianwali Training Air Base of the Pakistan Air Force came under a failed attack. Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported that the attack was quickly foiled by the base personnel.[1][8]

In total, nine militants were killed during the attack.[8] Three of the attackers were shot and killed by base personnel as they were entering, while three others were cornered and killed after exchanging fire. The remaining three attackers were killed during clearing operations.[9]

Aftermath

The Pakistan Air Force said that no damage had been done to any of its functional operational assets during the attack, although some damage was inflicted on three phased-out non-operational aircraft[1] while a fuel tank was destroyed.[9] However, an examination of open-source satellite images by India Today appeared to show a higher probability of additional damage, with imagery showing at least nine clear signs of damage to the operational sheds at the base. The magazine determined that it would require a significantly powerful explosion beneath them to cause such visible roof damage, thereby posing an increased risk to the aircraft stored inside.[2]

The Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan (TJP), an affiliate of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack.[1][8]

Reactions

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar praised the Pakistan Air Force's response to the attack and said that "any attempt to undermine our security will meet with unwavering resistance".[10] President Arif Alvi expressed satisfaction at the failure of the attack and denounced the attackers as enemies of Pakistan.[1]

Interim interior minister Sarfraz Bugti called the attack part of a conspiracy to destabilize Pakistan and called for unity among state institutions to combat terrorism. [1]

Former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, as well as former president and Pakistan People's Party leader Asif Ali Zardari also condemned the attack and praised the security forces for their efforts in countering terrorism.[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Shirazi, Iftikhar (2023-11-04). "9 terrorists killed as operation to clear PAF's Mianwali air base concludes: ISPR". DAWN.COM. Archived from the original on 2023-11-04. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  2. 1 2 "Satellite images show more damage at Pakistan's airbase than officially stated". India Today. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
  3. ↑ "PAF honours ace pilot MM Alam, renames Mianwali air base after him". The Express Tribune. 2014-03-20. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
  4. ↑ "Pakistan Air Force Station Attacked: Terrorists Attack MM Alam Training Air Base in Mianwali, Three Gunmen Killed". LatestLY. 2023-11-04. Archived from the original on 2023-11-09. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
  5. ↑ "mianwali airbase attack: Pakistan's Mianwali airbase attacked by terrorists, locals share video". The Times of India. 2023-11-04. Archived from the original on 2023-11-04. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  6. ↑ Livemint (2023-11-04). "Pakistan terror attack LIVE: 9 militants killed after attack on Pak air base". mint. Archived from the original on 2023-11-04. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  7. ↑ "Terrorists Storm Pakistans Mianwali Air Force Base, 3 Aircrafts [sic] Damaged". Zee News. 2023-11-04. Archived from the original on 2023-11-04. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Peshimam, Gibran Naiyyar (2023-11-04). "Militants attack air force base in central Pakistan, says military". Reuters. p. 1. Archived from the original on 2023-11-04. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  9. 1 2 3 "Pakistani troops kill 9 militants and foil an attack on an airbase in eastern Punjab province". Associated Press. 4 November 2023.
  10. ↑ "Pakistan troops 'thwart' attack on air force base, killing 9 fighters". Aljazeera. 4 November 2023.
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